Thurles Information

Upcoming Events In Cashel Library, Co. Tipperary.

Ms Maura Barrett, (Cashel Library) Reports:

Date:	Event:	Presenter:	Time:	Reservation Tel. No.:
Friday Dec. 5th.	Chair Yoga.	Lara Slattery. (Sukha Wellness).	11:30am-12:15pm.	Tel: 062 63825
Tuesday Dec. 9th.	Music & Singalong.	Cashel Library.	11:00am-12:30pm.	Tel: 062 63825
Friday Dec. 12th.	Choral Singing.	Cahir Coral A Capella Choir.	6:30pm Sharp. (Mulled Wine).	Tel: 062 63825
Dec. 17th.	Christmas Coffee Morning.	Cashel Library. (School Choirs).	11:00am Sharp.	Tel: 062 63825.

Do Remember booking is essential to these events – Tel: 062-63825.

Visitors attending these events can locate the Cashel Library building; situated on Friar Street, Lady’s Well, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, HERE. (Eircode E25 K798).

Tipperary Residents Advised To Get Vaccinated as Hospitals See Rising Flu Pressures.

As influenza activity continues to climb across Ireland, the HSE is calling on eligible members of the public to get their flu vaccine now, before cases escalate further.

Recent data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) shows that influenza activity rose in week 44 of 2025, with the highest number of cases so far among adults aged 65 years and older. Hospitalisations have also increased. Multiple strains, A(H3), A(H1)pdm09 and influenza B, have already been detected this season.

Local hospitals, including Tipperary University Hospital, and Limerick University Hospital, are under heavy pressure, with Emergency Departments experiencing large numbers of people presenting. As a result, many hospitals have introduced visitor restrictions to help manage the rise in flu cases.

With flu cases rising sharply, the vaccine remains the safest and most effective way to protect yourself, your family, and the wider community. Speaking to Liberty Pharmacy (Prop: Kate Kennedy) this morning, (Premises situated at No. 34 Lower Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary Tel: 0504 90604), their spokesperson stated, “We continue to have appointments available and now is the time to act, while the vaccine is still readily accessible.”

Keep in mind: Vaccination is free under the national programme for people aged 60 and over, children aged 2–17, pregnant women, health-care workers, carers, household contacts of people at higher risk, residents of long-stay facilities, and those with certain health conditions or regular contact with poultry, waterfowl or pigs.

Getting vaccinated helps prevent serious illness — and helps protect those around you.

Social Welfare Recipients Will Begin Receiving Christmas Bonuses Today.

Christmas Bonus Arrives As Inflation Bites For Households This Winter.

As consumer prices in Ireland rise steeply, the annual Christmas Bonus is arriving for long-term social welfare recipients, offering timely relief for many households under pressure.

The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that inflation, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), increased by 3.2 % in the 12 months to November 2025.

Prices for food rose by approximately 4.2 % over the past year, while energy costs climbed about 3.3 %, placing considerable strain on household budgets.

Recognising the challenge posed by rising costs, especially for essentials such as food and heating, the Department of Social Protection has initiated payment of the 2025 Christmas Bonus. Some 1.5 million long-term welfare recipients, including pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, lone parents and others on qualifying social welfare schemes, will receive a one-off bonus equal to 100 % of their typical weekly payment. The total value of the payments is estimated at €370 million.

The Bonus will be paid automatically on the same day recipients normally receive their weekly welfare payment, ensuring immediate support without additional paperwork.

While the Christmas Bonus cannot erase the full impact of elevated inflation, it does represents a significant short-term boost as households contend with higher costs during the winter and holiday season. In this context, the payment helps ease the burden on those most vulnerable to rising living costs.

Death Of Michael O’Loughlin, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday of Mr Michael O’Loughlin, Killinan, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his parents Jack and Mary and step-mother Mary J; Mr O’Loughlin passed away peacefully, following a short illness, while in the care of the staff at Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving wife Mary, children John, Nora, Irene (Catherine), Joan, James and Margaret, daughter-in-law Susanna, son-in-law Conal, grandson Jack, relatives, former colleagues in Tipperary Mart’s, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr O’Loughlin will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, on tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday December 2nd, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
His remains will be received into the Church of St Joseph and St Brigid, Bothar-na-Naomh, Thurles, on Wednesday morning, December 3rd at 10:30am, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment immediately afterwards in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Lognafulla, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mr O’Loughlin, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended O’Loughlin family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Note Please: Family flowers only, donations in lieu, if desired, to Avista, Lisnagry, Co. Limerick, in memory of Mr Michael O’Loughlin.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Some 5,200 People Set To Attend INEC Killarney To Receive Irish Citizenship.

Today and Tomorrow 5,200 people will be granted Irish citizenship at the INEC Killarney.

Applicants from over 132 countries and across all 32 counties on the island will make a declaration of fidelity and loyalty to the State and become Irish citizens; 94 of whom will reside in Co. Tipperary.

There will be six ceremonies held over the two days in Killarney, with a government Minister of State with responsibility for Migration, in attendance, joined by 3 Ministers of State.

The Presiding Officer at the ceremonies over the next two days is Judge Mr Paddy McMahon, who will confer the attendees with Irish Citizenship. He will administer the Declaration of Fidelity to the Irish Nation and Loyalty to the State. The new Irish citizens will undertake to faithfully observe the laws of the State and to respect its democratic values.

In just over two years the Citizenship Division of the Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications in 2023, and nearly 31,000 in 2024.

Significant changes have been introduced in the Citizenship Division of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to speed up the application process for applicants, including the introduction of an online digital application, online payments, and eVetting.

As a result, processing times are now decreasing year on year. The length of time it takes to process an application has dropped from 15 months in 2023 to 8 months in 2024.

Citizenship ceremonies were first introduced in 2011 in order to mark the occasion of the granting of citizenship in a dignified and solemn manner.

Since citizenship ceremonies were first introduced, there has been a total of 216 ceremonies (excluding the upcoming dates) with people from over 180 countries receiving their certificates of naturalisation.

To date, including minors, approximately 222,000 people have received Irish citizenship since 2011. Following the Killarney ceremonies in December, the confirmed attendees of over 5,200 will be added to this figure.